Victorian offspring Will Pucovski isn’t sure he’ll get a baggy green this summer. National coach Justin Langer admits that Joe Burns remains the favorite to open the eyelashes on the test page.
Pucovski entered the 17-man Test squad after putting together consecutive double centuries at the Sheffield Shield that summer.
Despite missing the first two rounds of the competition, the 22-year-old is currently the top scorer of the 2020/21 tournament with 495 runs in three innings.
Meanwhile, reigning inaugural batsman Burns failed to impress the national selection players this season, racking up 57 runs in five innings averaging 11.40.
However, the Queenslander is expected to keep his place alongside David Warner on the testing site. Langer suggests there will be an unchanged XI in the first game against India in the Adelaide Oval.
Burns has an impressive record with Warner in the five-day format, with the pair averaging 50.56 at the crease. Pucovski has only opened the eyelash twice in his top notch career, previously known as a middle-tier player.
“Will Pucovski is doing everything that is humanly possible to play this first test and we have to weigh that up,” said Langer on Friday.
“We went through a time when there were a lot of pros and cons and I think we should support the guys there. That can change, but it’s a pretty strong philosophy to stick with.
“The last time we played test cricket, we loved the combination of Joe Burns and David Warner. They have real synergy, they work well together, so at this point I’d say it stays the same. “
Pucovski and Burns were both named on the Australian A-squad to face the touring Indians and put up an old-fashioned bat in early December.
But Chief Selector Trevor Hohns said Warner will be consulted who he would like to see across the field this summer.
“Of course we’ll talk to David. He’s a very high-profile player, ”said Hohns.
“He is very experienced and it is important that he also feels comfortable, provided that we are of course with the person with whom he opens.
“It’s a long way to build an opening partnership – you have to feel comfortable with your partner. We certainly consult players on such issues. “
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor was puzzled by the admission, arguing that Warner’s contribution would not be worth it.
“I’ve heard the story that David and Joe love to hit each other, and that’s usually what happens in most opening partnerships,” said Taylor Broad world of sport.
“I enjoyed playing with all of the opening partners I had for Australia and New South Wales.
“So I don’t really know what you’re going to achieve if you ask David Warner about Joe Burns. I’m sure David will be very positive about Joe, I would be surprised if it weren’t for him. I don’t think they will learn anything new. “
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